EFFY'S BOOK REVIEW: JUMPING OFF SWINGS

"Most people don't even know I have a scar. People who don't know me don't stare at me anymore. They don't give me those disapproving looks. They can't tell by looking at me, the things that I've done."

It's about hooking up, parties, boys, teenage sex, and pregnancy. Not the fairy-tale-like-love-story bullshit every girl in the universe dream about. I once said on my twitter: "Start reading books about real problems and stop living in your fantasy" which I think doesn't change anything but whatever. I gave it a 5 star rating on goodreads.

"Just because a guy is nice to you doesn't mean you owe him anything."

This is Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles

SPOILERS!! SPOILERS!! SPOILERS!!

If you have already watched the film Juno, you'd probably already get it by now. There are a few differences though but it's kind of like the same shit. 

Anyway, it's a book told in four different points of view.

1. Ellie

2. Caleb

3. Corinne

4. Josh

The story begins when Josh left Ellie all by herself after they had sex in the back of the van without even looking back at her. He just went back into the party and started bragging about having sex with Ellie to his friends- he even made them smell his fingers. What kind of guy would do shit like that?

It must be hard for her because okay, she's not a virgin when she and Josh did it. I won't judge her because there must be a reason why she agreed to do it. Actually there really is. When her best friend Corinne asked her why she's hooking up with different guys she said: "I can't. I can't explain. I just... when I'm with them, I feel... like they care about me. I feel special. I feel like they want me. Not just my body but me. Like they could love me. But... I'm always wrong. No one wants me. No one will ever love me."

Caleb, the guy who's always had a crush on her (who is also not a jerk like his best friend Josh because Josh is a fucking twat) gets mad at his friend for what he did to Ellie. I mean who wouldn't?

When Ellie gets pregnant, the four of them were forced to grow up faster than they would have as teenagers.

As much as I want to talk about the story, I don't want to spoil too much so

THINGS ABOUT THIS BOOK:

1. I like how it is told in four different points of view because not all the books do that. It's good that readers get to see or read the other side of the story of the other characters involved. It’s like giving the character at fault the benefit of the doubt something like that.

2. I like Caleb's mom because she's done a big part during the process because it must be hard to be pregnant a very young age. They were there for Ellie right when she needed an adult supervision.

3. I kind of hate Ellie though for being such an idiot. I mean okay she’s not the only girl in the world who thinks the way she does but it’s still stupid because love and sex are two different things. Though I understand that girls tend to be really stupid when it comes to love, but still.

4. I love how this book is so realistic than the ones that have the same topic because things like this really happen in real life. The thing about this one is that the author made it possible for the readers to also see the different side of the story.

5. This book reminded me the shit I already know for a very long time now; that it's not always a happy ending.

Let's be honest, the reality is that girls really tend to do stupid things because of love (or at least that's what they think). The fact that girls always dream about fairy-tale-shit-love-story? I'm not sorry but I think it's dumb. When you always look forward for the good things in life or relationships, then there's no space for the bad ones coming that you aren't prepared for, which makes you weak. You can't always get the good ones because it wouldn't be real, would it?

Also, in real life, when things go wrong, you can always come to your family, especially your parents because I mean, they're there for a reason, right?